church2go

Well here we are. We have arrived and you have made us feel welcome. Thank you for that.Actually we need to say thanks for your prayers and concern for us also. We have been aware of the fact that you have been praying for us. Very much appreciated.  Saying thanks is what this sermon is about, not only because we are thankful to you, but because of this passage from Colossians. 

Look at verse 3. V 3 COL 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— 

Yes we have heard of your faith, read some information about your history and the way you have cared for people, God’s people and the community, over a long period of time.  We give thanks for your continued witness.  

Look at Verses 6 – All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. Here is something for this church to consider. All over

 All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit – and you have been part of it. This church has been part of it. I hope that this role is continued into the future. Setting people up for ministry, setting people aside for ministry both local, national and international, also discipling people so they are useful to the

 Isn’t it exciting to be part of God’s Kingdom. God’s mission for the lives of people. We get to be part of it all, here and other places. Our prayer is the same as comes from this passage. It will be a theme for my ministry to you and with you. 

COL 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  My prayer is that you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. Not just for the churches future but for you guys as individuals. I want you to grow, not just the church but as people.  You have obviously had great pastors in the past, I can see their stamp on your lives, you have seen people growing spiritually, in wisdom and understanding. I can not ask for more than that. IN fact it is another aim of mine – to help each person attain their best for Jesus. 

But notice the next bit.10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  

I find this interesting. We are told here to strive to live a life worthy of the Lord, yet we are sinners, and God knows that, we know we are saved only by God’s awesome grace, yet we are instructed to live up to a standard. Yep. Yep.  I think these days the church universal has dropped of our standards – we have melted into the crowd, we are no longer distinctive. I really don’t know enough about this congregation to make a distinctive judgement and I won’t.  But we are told here to bear fruit in every good work. That takes some effort. But nothing takes more work than pleasing God in everyway. Hey these are tough, hard words. I remember recently talking to someone about what is Christian behaviour and he said  “we really don’t have to take too much notice because we are under grace.”Wow, that’s a comfortable way of looking at the bible. Only take notice of the stuff that is comfortable. We need to step back here. The bible is a big book and as Christians and as Baptists we need to take each part of it seriously. After all, “All scripture is inspired by God.” This part of the bible is as valid as being under grace. Be real here. Grace may be from God but it engenders response
AND Obedience. That is what this is about. 

Doing these things is about being obedient to God.  That will be my continued prayer for you. And hey, just because we have arrived doesn’t mean we stop praying OK.  

I will be praying for you to live a life worthy of God right here and now in Yeoval. My work here is just beginning, yours is on going. Maybe yours is even picking up speed. And with this obedience we need to be locked into God. No matter what I do or say or demonstrate into the future none of it means much without God’s presence in your lives. So look at v 11 

11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  It is about being strengthened by God and look how much. According to his glorious might.  How much is God’s glorious might – Absolute.  God has provided the tools you need.This church has all the tools it needs to do the work that God has called you to. I believe it – you have to also.He has given you the tools for endurance and patience. Notice that at the end of v11. Why endurance and patience? Because you will need it. Yep.  

But to finish up look at v 12. (well we need to borrow a couple of words from v11)and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  Hey guys gives thanks for what’s ahead. Inheritance to God’s kingdom. Be part of God’s empire, being a saint in God’s army, being a son or daughter of the most high God, We are just so privileged to be part of God’s plan, and kingdom. We need to recognise that. And it leads us to worship. We may feel we aren’t up to being God’s representitives but let the weak say I am strong. We need to be constantly singing Holy, holy Holy and other worship and praise stuff. So lets.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 31st, 2009 at 9:43 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.